West Africa Tourism

West Africa Tourism Discover I Explore I Be Enchanted

West Africa Tourism Organisation (WATO) is an non-governmental
membership driven organisation dedicated to the development and promotion of tourism in West and Central Africa Our mission is to present West/Central Africa’s Tourism attractions and potentials to the world, with a view to encouraging international business investments into the tourism sector.

- Generate an increase in the in-bound traffic into the African region.
- Project her naturally endowed beauty, culture and history as top Tourist destination.

Guinea-Bissau has an official language which is Portuguese.But it has a living language, Kriol.Guinea-Bissau Creole, kno...
14/09/2026

Guinea-Bissau has an official language which is Portuguese.
But it has a living language, Kriol.

Guinea-Bissau Creole, known as Kriol, is the true lingua franca of the country, spoken across all ethnic groups as a language of everyday communication, while Portuguese, though official, is far less widely used. 

Kriol was not handed down. It was built, forged from centuries of contact between Portuguese colonisers, African peoples of diverse ethnicities, and the island communities of the Bijagós. It became the language that a fractured colonial territory used to find common ground, to trade, to organise, and ultimately to resist.

The vibrancy of Kriol reflects Guinea-Bissau’s broader cultural identity, a blend of Portuguese influence and deep African traditions, spoken alongside a rich oral history carried through generations. 

In Guinea-Bissau, language is not just communication. It is testimony.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦 "𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘍𝘪𝘴𝘩"The Niger River irrigates the fertile regions of southern Mali, creating a rich ecosystem that...
11/09/2026

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦 "𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘍𝘪𝘴𝘩"

The Niger River irrigates the fertile regions of southern Mali, creating a rich ecosystem that includes species found nowhere else on Earth. Among them is Mormyrops oudoti, or the Elephant Fish. This unique freshwater creature possesses an elongated, tubular snout resembling a tiny trunk and communicates with other fish using self-generated weak electrical fields. It is traditionally fished by the Bozo people, who are known culturally as the "masters of the river".

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿One of Africa’s most important rivers, the Niger River flows through Mali and has supported civilisation,...
09/09/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿
One of Africa’s most important rivers, the Niger River flows through Mali and has supported civilisation, farming, and trade for centuries. Known as the lifeblood of Mali, it sustains communities, wildlife, and agriculture while connecting the region's rich cultural heritage.

𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸? The Niger River is the third-longest river in Africa and creates one of the continent's largest inland deltas in central Mali.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝗼𝗻The Dogon people in Mali, who live along the striking 150-kilometer sandstone Cliff of B...
07/09/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝗼𝗻

The Dogon people in Mali, who live along the striking 150-kilometer sandstone Cliff of Bandiagara, possess complex, ancient astronomical traditions. Their most sacred ritual festival, the Sigui, is celebrated only once every 60 years. This deep-time cycle is traditionally tied to the orbit of Sirius B a tiny white dwarf star completely invisible to the naked human eye, which the Dogon knew about centuries before modern telescopes confirmed its existence.

𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘝𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴. 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴. AeroWest 2026 brought together influential voices shaping Africa’s aviation...
06/09/2026

𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘝𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴. 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴.

AeroWest 2026 brought together influential voices shaping Africa’s aviation, tourism and economic landscape.

We were honoured to have 𝗛. 𝗘. 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗢𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗻 𝗢𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗷𝗼, 𝗚𝗖𝗙𝗥, 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮, whose administration made notable contributions to tourism and aviation, including the National Tourism Development Master Plan and key aviation reforms such as the passage of the Civil Aviation Act of 2006 and the initiation of the total radar coverage to overhaul safety. At AeroWest 2026, he called for sustainable tourism, greater collaboration and the preservation of Africa’s heritage, describing the summit as “a call to action, a new beginning, not an end.”

𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿. 𝗕𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗮 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘂-𝗛𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘆𝗶𝗻, Secretary to the Lagos State Government, also shared a powerful reminder:
“Neither airports, airlines, nor governments can drive tourism alone. Unlocking its full potential requires a collective effort uniting finance, technology, hospitality, the creative sector, and the community.”

The conference also welcomed 𝗗𝗿. 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝗜𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘇𝗼𝗿; Deputy Governor Central Bank of Nigeria(𝗖𝗕𝗡) (represented by Dr. Okechukwu Umeano), 𝗛. 𝗘. 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱; High Commissioner of Barbados to Ghana and Nigeria, 𝗛. 𝗘. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗮 𝗡𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗮-𝗡𝗵𝘇𝗼𝗵𝗼; Secretary of State Ministry of Information, Press, Culture and Tourism Equatorial Tourism, Amb. Christopher Onanuga; Chairman Liberia National Tourist Board and Presidential Special Envoy on Tourism, Amb. Charles Omini; International Human Rights Protection Service Special Envoy to West Africa, Mrs Fatmata Carew; Chief Executive Officer Sierra Leone National Tourist Board, Professor Obiora Okonkwo Chairman and CEO United Nigeria Airline and a host of other high level industry professionals.

05/09/2026

𝗔𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮: 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀
If Day 1 opened the door to new conversations, Day 2 reminded us why those conversations matter.
The second day of AeroWest Africa 2026 brought together more key voices from aviation, tourism and business from the engaging panel sessions focused on the opportunities, challenges and possibilities shaping Africa’s travel and connectivity landscape.

The day began on a powerful note with opening remarks from 𝗛. 𝗘. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗮 𝗡𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗮-𝗡𝘇𝗼𝗵𝗼 𝗔𝗯𝗲𝘀𝗼, an opening plenary remark from 𝗛. 𝗘. 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, setting the stage for meaningful conversations around strengthening regional cooperation and unlocking the potential of African tourism and aviation.

For WATO, Day 2 was another opportunity to proudly represent what we do, while engaging with stakeholders who are passionate about expanding tourism opportunities across West and Central Africa.
Our stand remained a hive of activity, welcoming potential partners, collaborators, existing members and industry stakeholders eager to learn more and explore ways to work together.

And then came the Grand Finale Dinner a fitting close to two days of conversations, connections and collaboration. It was an evening to celebrate the people, partnerships and shared vision driving the industry forward.
From thought-provoking panels to meaningful networking and an evening of celebration, Day 2 reinforced one thing:
Africa’s tourism story is bigger when we tell it, build it and connect it together.

Day 1 of the Aerowest 2026 Summit kicked off with powerful conversations in Lagos! ✈️🌍Proudly co-convened by the West Af...
04/09/2026

Day 1 of the Aerowest 2026 Summit kicked off with powerful conversations in Lagos! ✈️🌍
Proudly co-convened by the West Africa Tourism Organisation (WATO) alongside Jet Afrique Aviation Services, Day 1 set the tone for meaningful conversations around transforming air connectivity and unlocking the potential of West and Central Africa.

A major highlight was WATO CEO, olawright, taking the stage to deliver a welcome address and moderate a high-level panel on creating destination demand, bringing together, CEOs, and investors for conversations focused on practical solutions and actionable opportunities.

Beyond the conversations, the WATO booth was also set up, creating a space to connect, engage and showcase WATO’s work in advancing tourism and aviation across the region.
But Day 1 was only the beginning.

For West Africa, sustainable and responsible tourism is not just an environmental conversation. It is an economic one an...
04/09/2026

For West Africa, sustainable and responsible tourism is not just an environmental conversation. It is an economic one and a cultural one.

This is a region rich in biodiversity, living heritage, and extraordinary landscapes.

The choices made now by governments, by tourism operators, by travellers, and by organisations like WATO, will determine whether West Africa’s tourism growth lifts communities or displaces them. Whether it protects ecosystems or depletes them. Whether it tells Africa’s story on Africa’s terms or reduces it to a backdrop for someone else’s adventure.

Sustainable and responsible tourism is how West Africa grows without losing itself.

That is why it matters here more than anywhere.

Sustainable tourism is one of the most used phrases in the travel industry today.It is also one of the most misunderstoo...
02/09/2026

Sustainable tourism is one of the most used phrases in the travel industry today.
It is also one of the most misunderstood.

It is not simply about choosing a hotel with a recycling bin. It is not a carbon offset purchased at checkout. Sustainable tourism is a fundamental shift in how we think about travel, who it benefits, what it costs the environment, and whether the communities at the centre of it are better or worse off because of it.

At its core, sustainable tourism asks one question: can this place absorb the impact of visitors without losing what made it worth visiting in the first place?

When the answer is yes and when local communities, ecosystems, and cultural heritage are actively protected in the process , that is sustainable tourism working as it should.

West Africa is not waiting to adopt this model. In many ways, it has always lived it.

As we venture to new places, we have the responsibility to protect our planet and respect local cultures. Sustainable to...
31/08/2026

As we venture to new places, we have the responsibility to protect our planet and respect local cultures. Sustainable tourism isn’t just a trend; it’s a necessity. By supporting local businesses, reducing our carbon footprint, and practicing responsible travel habits, we can help preserve the beauty of our world for future travelers.

This year, let’s prioritize eco-friendly choices in our travels, from choosing sustainable accommodations to reducing plastic usage. Together, we can make a difference.

What sustainable practices do you incorporate in your travels? Share below 👇

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